Newborn Care 101: Essential Tips for First-Time Parents
Newborn Care 101: Essential Tips for First-Time Parents
October 11, 2024 by adminHaving a newborn baby is very exciting, but for new parents, it may be stressful. Stuff can change though once you get the grip of what’s going on and with some guidance, taking care of your newborn can turn out to be a happy experience. Here are some very important tips by Sugam hospital, the best pediatric hospital in Chennai to guide first-time parents during the early days with their little one.
1. Newborn Needs
Newborns have basic needs but very frequent: rest, feeding, and comfort. They need feeding in the second hour of life as well as every 2-3 hours after that, with no night breaks. Newborns sleep around 16-17 hours a day but in segments all throughout the clock; you can expect broken sleep. Having these needs puts the parents in a position to lay down a flexible routine and even guess their baby’s behavior better.
2. Safe Sleep Practices
The most significant issue about newborn sleep is safety. Here are some key guidelines for safe sleeping:
A firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet: A firm mattress should always be used rather than a soft one. Use of pillows or blankets in the crib is to be strictly avoided and ensure that the mattress is tightly fitted with a sheet.
Room-Share, Not Bed-Share: For the first six months, it’s best to have the baby sleep in the same room but in a separate crib or bassinet.
3. Feeding Your Newborn
Whether breast or formula-fed, newborns eat frequently because of their very small stomachs. Here are some tips:
Breastfeeding Tips: Feed on demand and look for hunger cues like rooting or sucking on hands. If a baby continues to have difficulty, ask a lactation consultant for guidance on latching. Learn more about breast feeding from our pediatrician in Chromepet.
Formula Feeding: Select a formula for newborns and follow package instructions to prepare for each feeding. Keep the baby close at all times and burp after feeding to prevent gas.
4. Newborn Bathing And Skin Care
Newborns have sensitive skin. Gentle care is required:
Bath Time First: Have sponge baths for the first couple of weeks before the umbilical cord stump dries off.
Mild Products: Use fragrance-free and hypoallergenic soaps and lotions designed for babies.
Moisturize: Apply a light amount of moisturizer to prevent their skin from becoming too dry and to help them be as smooth as a baby.
5. Diapering Basics
Babies are often diapered. Here is what you need to know:
Diaper Changes: Expect to do diaper changes around 8-12 times a day. Look for a wet diaper, fussiness, or general discomfort.
Preventing Diaper Rash: You can minimize the likelihood of developing diaper rash by keeping your baby’s skin as dry as possible and applying a thin layer of diaper cream with each change.
6. Soothing Techniques For Newborns
Newborn babies often cry to express their needs. Learn effective soothing techniques:
Swaddle Comfortably: Wrapping the baby up in a swaddle may be very comforting and may help him or her sleep more soundly.
White Noise: Soft sounds that would help remind them of the womb environment, such as white noise machines, will sometimes help calm the fussy baby.
Gentle Movement: Rocking or merely patting your baby on the back will sometimes comfort the baby when he or she is fussy.
7. Parent Self-Care
Taking care of oneself is proper newborn care. See to it that you eat well, get plenty of rest, and find help when needed. Parenting is a process and what helps this process is awareness of one’s own self-needs.
Those early days with a new baby are truly beautiful, but also need time to catch up on a routine. Do not be too hard on yourself. If you need to ask for help, just do so. And remember that you’re not the only one. The first few months are blink-and-you’ll-miss-them kinds of moments. Enjoy every single one as you grow together with the assistance from our best pediatricians in Chennai.